OECD unemployment rate stable at.4% in March 2018 The OECD unemployment rate remained stable at.4% in March 2018. Across the OECD area, 34 million people were unemployed, 1.4 million more than in April 2008, but 1.1 million below the January 2013 peak. The unemployment rate was also stable (at 8.%) in the euro area in March and was stable or fell in all euro area economies. The largest declines (by 0.2 percentage point) were in the Netherlands (to 3.9%) and Portugal (to 7.4%). The unemployment rate was also stable in Canada (at.8%), Japan (at 2.%) and the United States (at 4.1%). It decreased by 0.2 percentage point in Israel (to 3.6%) and by 0.1 percentage point in Mexico (to 3.2%) but increased by 0.4 percentage point in Korea (to 4.0%). More recent data show that in April, the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point in the United States, to 3.9%, the lowest level since December 2000, while it remained stable in Canada. The OECD unemployment rate for youth (people aged 1 to 24) decreased by 0.1 percentage point, to 11.1% in March. In the euro area, the youth unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point, to 17.3%, its lowest level since October 2008. Youth unemployment rates fell significantly in March in Italy (down 0.8 percentage point, to 31.7%) and Spain (down 0.7 percentage point, to 3.0%) and also fell significantly in Greece (down 1.2 percentage points, to 42.3% in January, the latest month available) but remain high in the three countries., s.a. All Youth 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 OECD Total United States Euro area Japan 6 60 0 4 40 3 30 2 20 1 10 0 OECD Total Euro area Greece Italy Spain Methodological Notes: http://www.oecd.org/sdd/labour-stats/44743407.pdf All rates and levels quoted are seasonally adjusted (s.a.). In this News Release, April 2008 is considered as the month preceding the start of the global financial crisis. Labour Market Statistics: http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=36324 Country The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law. Contacts: For further information readers are invited to contact the OECD's Media Relations Division on (33) 1 4 24 97 00 or e-mail news.contact@oecd.org For technical questions contact stat.contact@oecd.org Next release: Thursday, 14 June 2018 1
Table 1: OECD Unemployment Rates, s.a. Percentage of active population 201 2016 2017 2017 2018 2017 2018 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar OECD - Total 6.8 6.3.8.8.7..4.6...4.4.4 Major Seven.8..0.0 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.6 European Union 9.4 8.6 7.6 7.7 7. 7.3 7.1 7.4 7.3 7.3 7.2 7.1 7.1 Euro area 10.9 10.0 9.1 9.1 9.0 8.7 8. 8.8 8.7 8.6 8.6 8. 8. Australia 6.1.7.6.6....4.4.6... Austria.7 6.0...4.4.1.4.4.4.2.0.0 Belgium (1) 8. 7.9 7.1 7.3 7.0 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.4 Canada (2) 6.9 7.0 6.3 6. 6.2 6.0.8 6.2.9.8.9.8.8 Chile 6.2 6. 6.7 6.7 6. 6.8 6.9 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.9 Czech Republic.1 4.0 2.9 3.1 2.7 2.4 2.3 2. 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.2 Denmark 6.2 6.2.7.7.7.3 4.9..3.2 4.9 4.9 4.8 Estonia 6.2 6.8.8 6.4.9.6..6.7 6. 6. Finland 9.4 8.8 8.6 8.7 8. 8.4 8.3 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.3 8.3 8.2 France 10.4 10.1 9.4 9. 9. 9.1 8.9 9.2 9.0 9.0 9.0 8.9 8.8 Germany 4.6 4.1 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 3. 3.6 3.6 3. 3. 3. 3.4 Greece 2.0 23.6 21. 21. 20.8 21.0 21.0 21.1 20.8 20.6 Hungary 6.8.1 4.2 4.3 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.7 Iceland 4.0 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 Ireland 10.0 8.4 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.4 6.1 6. 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 6.0 Israel.2 4.8 4.2 4.4 4.1 4.1 3.7 4.1 4.3 4.0 3.6 3.8 3.6 Italy 11.9 11.7 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.0 11.2 11.0 11.0 Japan 3.4 3.1 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.7 2. 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.4 2. 2. Korea 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 4.0 Latvia 9.9 9.6 8.7 8.9 8.6 8.3 8.1 8.3 8.3 8.2 8.3 8.0 7.9 Luxembourg 6. 6.3.6.6.6.4.4.4.4.4.3.4.4 Mexico 4.4 3.9 3.4 3. 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.4 3. 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.2 Netherlands 6.9 6.0 4.9.0 4.7 4.4 4.1 4. 4.4 4.4 4.2 4.1 3.9 New Zealand.4.1 4.7 4.8 4.6 4. 4.4 Norway 4. 4.8 4.2 4.4 4.1 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.9 Poland 7. 6.2 4.9.1 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.6 4.6 4. 4. 4.4 4.4 Portugal 12.7 11.2 9.0 9.3 8.7 8.1 7.6 8.4 8.1 7.9 7.9 7.6 7.4 Slovak Republic 11. 9.7 8.1 8.3 7.9 7.7 7. 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.6 7. 7. Slovenia 9.0 8.0 6.6 6.6 6..8.3 6.0.7.6.4.3.2 Spain 22.1 19.7 17.2 17.3 16.8 16.6 16.2 16.7 16.6 16. 16.4 16.2 16.1 Sweden 7.4 7.0 6.7 6.7 6.8 6. 6.2 6.6 6.4 6. 6..9 6.2 Switzerland 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 Turkey 10.3 10.9 10.9 11.1 10.8 10.1 10.3 10.1 9.9 9.9 United Kingdom.3 4.8 4.4 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.1 United States (3).3 4.9 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 Notes: (1) Belgium: Due to a methodological break in the Labour Force Survey, data from the 1st quarter of 2017 onwards are not comparable with previous data. (2) Canada: Unemployment rate for April 2018 was.8%. (3) United States: Unemployment rate for April 2018 was 3.9%. 2
Table 2: Unemployment Rates by Gender, s.a. Percentage of corresponding active population Women Men 2017 2017 2018 2018 2017 2017 2018 2018 Q4 Q1 Jan Feb Mar Q4 Q1 Jan Feb Mar OECD - Total.9.7.6.6.6..6.4.3.3.2.3 Major Seven 4.9 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6.0 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.7 European Union 7.9 7.6 7.4 7. 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.1 6.9 7.0 6.9 6.8 Euro area 9.4 9.1 8.9 9.0 8.9 8.9 8.7 8.4 8.2 8.3 8.2 8.1 Australia.7..6.6.6.6..4.4.4.. Austria.0.0 4.9.0 4.9 4.9.9.8.2.4.1.1 Belgium (1) 7.1 6.4 6.3 6.3 6.4 6.3 7.1 6.4 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.4 Canada.9..4..4.4 6.8 6.3 6.1 6.2 6.1 6.1 Chile 7.2 7. 7.6 7. 7.6 6.3 6.4 6.4 6. 6.4 Czech Republic 3.6 3.0 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.4 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 Denmark.9.6.3.3.4.2..1 4.4 4. 4.4 4.4 Estonia.4.3 6.4 6.1 6.2.8 6.6 6.8 Finland 8.4 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.9 8.6 8.2 8.4 8.2 8.1 France 9.4 9.0 8.8 8.9 8.8 8.7 9. 9.1 9.0 9.0 9.0 8.9 Germany 3.3 3.2 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 Greece 26.1 2.8 2.6 17.8 17.1 16.7 Hungary 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.2 3.8 3.4 3.3 3.3 Iceland 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.4 2. 2.4 2.4 Ireland 6.3 6.0.7.8.6.6 7.1 6.7 6. 6.6 6. 6.4 Israel 4.3 4.2 3. 3.8 3.6 3.3 4.1 4.1 3.8 3. 4.0 3.9 Italy 12.4 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.0 12. 10.4 10.2 10.1 10.2 10.2 9.9 Japan 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 3.0 2.9 2.6 2. 2.6 2.7 Korea 3. 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 3. 4.1 Latvia 7.7 7.4 7.1 7.2 7.0 7.0 9.8 9.1 9.0 9.3 9.0 8.7 Luxembourg..3.3.3.3.3.7..4.3.. Mexico 3.6 3.7 3.4 3.4 3. 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.2 Netherlands.3 4.7 4.3 4. 4.3 4.1 4. 4.1 3.9 4.0 3.8 3.8 New Zealand.2.0 4.9 4.2 4.0 3.9 Norway 3.8 3.6 3.6 3. 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.2 Poland 4.9 4.7 4. 4. 4. 4. 4.9 4. 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.3 Portugal 9. 8.6 7.9 8.2 7.8 7.6 8.6 7.8 7.4 7. 7.4 7.2 Slovak Republic 8.4 8.2 8.1 8.2 8.1 8.1 7.9 7.3 7.0 7.1 7.0 6.9 Slovenia 7. 6.6.8 6.0.8.7.8.0 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.7 Spain 19.0 18.4 18.0 18.1 18.0 17.9 1.7 1.0 14.7 14.8 14.7 14.6 Sweden 6.4 6.3 6.1 6.4.6 6.3 6.9 6.7 6.3 6. 6.2 6.1 Switzerland.1.0 4.6 4. Turkey (2) 14.0 12.8 12.6 9. 8.8 8.6 United Kingdom 4.2 4.3 4.1 4. 4.3 4.1 United States 4.3 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.1 (1) Belgium: Due to a methodological break in the Labour Force Survey, data from the 1st quarter of 2017 onwards are not comparable with previous data. (2) Turkey: Due to changes introduced in the Labour Force Survey, data by gender from January 2014 onwards are OECD estimates. 3
Table 3: Unemployment Rates by Age, s.a. Percentage of corresponding active population Youth (1-24) Prime-age and Older Workers (2+) 2017 2017 2018 2018 2017 2017 2018 2018 Q4 Q1 Jan Feb Mar Q4 Q1 Jan Feb Mar OECD - Total 11.9 11. 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.1.0 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.6 Major Seven 10.6 10.4 10.0 10.1 10.1 9.8 4.3 4.1 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 European Union 16.8 16.2 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.6 6.7 6.4 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.2 Euro area 18.8 17.9 17. 17.6 17. 17.3 8.1 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.7 7.6 Australia 12.6 12.2 12.6 12.3 13.2 12. 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.2 Austria 9.8 9.8 9.9 9.4 10.2 10.1 4.9 4.8 4.4 4.6 4.3 4.4 Belgium (1) 19.3 16.4 17.7 17.7 17.7 17.7 6.2.6.... Canada 11.6 10.9 11.0 10.9 11.1 10.9..2.0.0 4.9 4.9 Chile 16.9 16.8 17.0 16.8 17.0..7.7.8.7 Czech Republic 7.9.7 6.9 6.6 7.4 6.8 2.6 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.0 Denmark 11.0 9.8 9.6 9.6 9.7 9. 4.8 4. 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.9 Estonia 12.2 7.9 8.9 10..2.4 6.2 6.1 Finland 19.9 19.1 18.8 18.8 18.8 18.9 7.1 7.0 6.8 6.9 6.8 6.7 France 22.3 21. 21.6 21.6 21.6 21. 8.1 7.8 7.6 7.6 7.6 7. Germany 6.8 6.4 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.1 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 Greece 43.6 43.1 42.3 20.2 19.7 19.4 Hungary 10.8 10. 10.9 10.4 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.2 Iceland 8.2 7.0 6.4 6. 6.4 6.4 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 Ireland 14. 13.1 12.7 12.9 12.7 12..7..2.3.2.2 Israel 7.3 7.2.7.8 6. 4.8 3.6 3.7 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.0 Italy 34.9 33. 32.1 32.2 32. 31.7 9.8 9.6 Japan 4.7 4. 3.8 3.3 4.2 3.8 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4 Korea 10.3 10.4 10.2 9. 9.9 11.1 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.2 3. Latvia 17.0 17. 16.4 17.6 16.4 1.2 8.1 7.6 7. 7.6 7. 7.4 Luxembourg 1.4 14.1 13.9 14.1 13.8 13.9 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.7 4.7 Mexico 6.9 7.0 6.8 6.6 6.8 7.1 2.7 2.7 2. 2.6 2. 2.4 Netherlands 8.9 7.9 7.2 7.4 7.2 7.0 4.1 3.7 3. 3.6 3. 3.4 New Zealand 12.7 12.3 11.6 3.2 3.0 3.0 Norway 10.7 10.0 9.2 8.4 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.2 Poland 14.8 14.6 13.9 14.1 13.8 13.8 4.1 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 Portugal 23.8 23.1 21.3 21. 21.2 21.3 7.9 6.9 6.6 6.8 6.6 6.3 Slovak Republic 18.9 18.7 18.6 18.7 18.6 18.4 7.3 6.8 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.6 Slovenia (2) 11.3 11.2 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.6 6.2.3 4.9.0 4.9 4.8 Spain 38.7 37.0 3.6 36.1 3.7 3.0 1.7 1.1 14.9 1.0 14.9 14.8 Sweden 17.7 17.0 1.9 16.6 14. 16.7.2.1 4.9.1 4.8 4.8 Switzerland 8.1 7. 4.3 4.4 Turkey 20.7 18.6 18. 9.0 8. 8.2 United Kingdom 12.1 12.0 11. 3.2 3.1 3.0 United States 9.2 9.2 8.9 9.2 9.0 8. 3.6 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 (1) Belgium: Quarterly data are shown for youth unemployment. Due to a methodological break in the Labour Force Survey, data from the 1st quarter of 2017 onwards are not comparable with previous data. (2) Slovenia: Quarterly data are shown for youth unemployment. 4
Table 4: Unemployment Levels, s.a. Thousands of persons 2016 2017 2017 2018 2017 2018 Q3 Q4 Q1 Dec Jan Feb Mar OECD - Total 39,338 36,181 3,788 34,732 34,122 34,493 34,228 34,110 34,031 Major Seven 20,46 18,891 18,800 18,11 17,873 17,992 17,890 17,911 17,816 European Union 20,939 18,779 18,8 18,022 17,617 17,860 17,794 17,7 17,481 Euro area 16,24 14,70 14,90 14,190 13,932 14,072 14,064 13,907 13,824 Australia 726 72 720 716 729 732 72 733 730 Austria 270 248 244 244 231 244 23 228 229 Belgium (1) 390 34 32 319 31 312 314 316 31 Canada 1,361 1,247 1,222 1,176 1,147 1,139 1,13 1,144 1,142 Chile 63 92 80 612 621 617 623 621 Czech Republic 212 1 146 130 124 126 128 12 120 Denmark 187 171 172 19 14 1 146 146 144 Estonia 47 41 41 39 40 46 46 Finland 237 234 231 231 227 231 229 227 226 France 2,972 2,788 2,820 2,692 2,660 2,671 2,676 2,660 2,64 Germany 1,774 1,621 1,601 1,49 1,493 1,29 1,10 1,493 1,477 Greece 1,131 1,027 997 994 987 977 Hungary 234 192 191 178 174 173 171 Iceland 6 6 Ireland 19 18 17 11 146 10 148 146 143 Israel 188 168 164 166 148 162 146 1 144 Italy 3,009 2,909 2,912 2,86 2,869 2,83 2,89 2,846 2,86 Japan 2,080 1,896 1,883 1,843 1,673 1,830 1,600 1,690 1,730 Korea 1,009 1,023 1,014 1,017 1,041 1,022 1,009 997 1,116 Latvia 9 8 8 81 79 81 81 79 77 Luxembourg 18 16 16 16 1 16 1 16 1 Mexico 2,08 1,84 1,794 1,872 1,79 1,864 1,814 1,794 1,777 Netherlands 39 438 428 399 368 39 380 367 37 New Zealand 133 127 126 122 119 Norway 132 116 114 111 112 111 108 Poland 1,063 844 826 786 762 779 771 760 74 Portugal 72 46 40 421 39 411 408 39 381 Slovak Republic 267 224 219 212 207 210 209 207 20 Slovenia 80 68 67 9 7 6 4 Spain 4,481 3,917 3,819 3,767 3,693 3,70 3,727 3,696 3,6 Sweden 366 39 366 32 33 349 31 319 334 Switzerland 238 234 234 232 Turkey 3,330 3,41 3,432 3,224 3,16 3,160 United Kingdom 1,99 1,448 1,414 1,418 1,412 1,372 United States 7,71 6,982 6,947 6,72 6,68 6,76 6,684 6,706 6,8 (1) Belgium: Due to a methodological break in the Labour Force Survey, data from the 1st quarter of 2017 onwards are not comparable with previous data.